What is this research being done and why am I being asked to participate?
You are invited to participate in a research study examining leadership experiences, leadership development, and leadership capacity among adults living and working in Colorado. This study is being conducted by researchers from the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO) with support from the Boettcher Foundation.

You are being invited because you are an adult (18 years of age or older) who lives and/or works in Colorado and is affiliated with an organization or network that distributed information about this study.

What will I be asked to do?
If you choose to participate, you will complete an online survey about leadership experiences, leadership development, workplace learning, civic and community engagement, and related attitudes and perspectives. The survey takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. Participation is entirely voluntary. You may skip any question you do not wish to answer and may stop participating at any time by closing your browser window.

What are the risks of this research?
This study involves minimal risk. Some questions may prompt reflection on personal leadership experiences, workplace experiences, or professional development. While these topics are not expected to cause significant discomfort, you may choose not to answer any question.

What are the benefits of this research?
You may not receive a direct personal benefit from participating. However, your responses may contribute to a better understanding of leadership development across Colorado and help inform future leadership, workforce, educational, and community development initiatives.

Compensation
There is no compensation for participation.

Do I have to be in this research? May I stop participating at any time?
Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. You may choose not to participate in this study and/or discontinue participation at any time. You may also skip any question that you do not feel comfortable answering. If you decide not to participate in this study or if you stop participating at any time, you will not be penalized or lose any benefits to which you otherwise qualify.

What about confidentiality?
The survey does not collect your name, email address, IP address, employee identification number, or other direct personal identifiers.

Researchers will analyze and report results only in aggregate or de-identified form. Findings may be reported by broad geographic regions, sectors, demographic groups, or other categories, but no individual participant or organization will be identified in reports, publications, presentations, or publicly shared results.

Because demographic information is collected, there is a small possibility that combinations of responses could indirectly identify someone. To reduce this risk, results for very small groups may be combined with other categories or withheld from reporting.

The Boettcher Foundation may receive a de-identified participant-level dataset for research and analytical purposes. No names, email addresses, IP addresses, or other direct identifiers will be included in any dataset shared outside the research team.

Because the survey is anonymous, once a completed survey has been submitted it cannot be withdrawn from the research dataset.

What if I have questions?
If you have questions about this study, please contact:
John P. Dugan, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity
MSL@expandingleadership.org

If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact Heartland Institutional Review Board (HIRB) at secretary@heartlandirb.org.

Consent
By participating in the survey, you acknowledge that:

• You are at least 18 years of age.
• You have read and understood the information above.
• Participation is voluntary. You may stop participating at any time.
• You currently reside in the State of Colorado.
• You consent to participate in this research study.

Proceed to the survey here.